Dynamo sign 'face of franchise' Ching to new deal

Dynamo lock up All-Star ChingForward signs new deal through 2013 MLS season

BERNARDO FALLAS, Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle

Published
5:30 am CDT, Thursday, September 24, 2009

Determined to keep the face of the franchise around for the long term, the Dynamo have re-signed Brian Ching to a deal that will keep the MLS All-Star and U.S. national team forward in Houston through at least the 2013 season.

Ching, 31, was under contract through next season, but the Dynamo decided to tear up that deal and secure his services for the next four years.

“It’s not something they do normally, so it shows they care and value me, which I’m really excited about,” Ching said Thursday. “I’m happy to sign with such a great organization again.”

The team will announce the signing today.

Franchise scoring leader

Ching, the Dynamo’s all-time scoring leader, has eight goals and three assists in 18 appearances (17 starts) this season despite missing roughly a third of the games because of national team duty.

An instant hit with Houston fans thanks to a memorable four-goal performance in the team’s inaugural game — a 5-2 win over the Colorado Rapids at Robertson Stadium in 2006 — Ching helped lead the Dynamo to two MLS Cup titles, in 2006 and 2007, in the process becoming a household name locally.

Established player

Ching is averaging just under 10 goals and three assists in his four seasons with the Dynamo.

Ching is averaging just under 10 goals and three assists in his four seasons with the Dynamo.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Chronicle

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Chronicle

Image
1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1

Ching is averaging just under 10 goals and three assists in his four seasons with the Dynamo.

Ching is averaging just under 10 goals and three assists in his four seasons with the Dynamo.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Chronicle

Dynamo sign 'face of franchise' Ching to new deal

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

Ching, a Haleiwa, Hawaii, native, also won an MLS championship in 2003 with the San Jose Earthquakes.

“We are very happy to extend our relationship with Brian Ching,” Dynamo chief operating officer Chris Canetti said. “He is an important part of the Dynamo organization, both on and off the field.”

As per team and league policy, financial terms of the deal were not available, although Canetti said Ching is being rewarded “on a new level,” hinting a raise to go with the job security.

Ching’s guaranteed compensation for 2009 hovers around $240,000, according to the MLS Players Union, making him one of the best-paid players on the Dynamo roster.

An eight-year veteran of MLS, Ching has played the past seven seasons with the team that eventually became the Dynamo and, save for 2003, always under the direction of coach Dominic Kinnear.

One of the most respected and consistent forwards in the league, Ching is averaging just under 10 goals and three assists in his fourth season with the Dynamo and has been voted or named to the MLS All-Star team in all but one of those seasons (2008).

Select company

“Few players in the history of MLS have contributed to their club on the level he has,” Canetti said.